Chicago hospital fined for masking policy after nurses file complaint

A Chicago community hospital has been fined nearly $13,500 by Fed-OSHA after it was cited late last year for not following federal guidelines related to respirator use for workers treating COVID-19 patients. According to union nurses, the inspection last year that resulted in the citations was spurred from complaints they made after three of their fellow nurses died of COVID-19. Chicago Sun-Times

Miami Tower janitors allege retaliation for protesting unfair conditions

Janitors from Miami Tower recently protested against working conditions and harassment after a complaint was filed with Fed-OSHA about the use of noxious chemical spray to disinfect the building while janitors were still inside. The group also says that one of their cleaners was recently attacked by a man as she attempted to walk to her car, and in response the company began to offer its janitors parking spots for $50 a month. NBC Miami

Employee injured in ladder fall at metro Boston worksite

A 30-year-old man fell off a 10-foot ladder while working Monday at a Framingham, Massachusetts building last Monday. The incident is not the first at the building: in September 2019, another man fell at least 20 feet through a rotted portion of a ceiling and suffered serious head injuries. MetroWest Daily News

Injury, illness reporting deadline looms

Fed-OSHA is reminding employers they must submit 2020 injury and illness data by March 2. Employers required to submit the data to Fed-OSHA include those whose employees are classified in high-risk industries, such as facility service staff. Electronic submission of this data is required by establishments with 20-249 employees classified in the high-risk industries, as well as all establishments with 250 or more employees. Cleaning & Maintenance Management

New York City-area cemetery employee killed in grave cave-in

A Suffolk County, New York cemetery employee was pronounced dead at the scene on Thursday morning when the seven-foot-deep grave he was working in collapsed on him. Fed-OSHA is investigating. Newsday

OR-OSHA cites builder, sub for safety violations in roofer’s death

Oregon-OSHA has determined that the construction company on a Bend high school project maintained unsafe conditions that contributed to the death of a 38-year-old roofer who fell 45 feet to the concrete below in August, issuing it a serious safety violation and $2,450 fine. Its roofing subcontractor also was cited for a serious violation and fined $3,600, for allegedly not ensuring he was trained on using a cart on a pitched roof. Bend Bulletin

Researchers link legalized cannabis to decline in work injuries

Adults between 42 and 60 years old claim up to 20 percent less in workers’ compensation benefits in states where recreational cannabis is legal, according to a new study analyzing nine years of data. The research also found the drug caused an associated decline in the rate of non-fatal work injuries. NorthJersey